Katie Piper has penned a heartbreaking open letter calling for more to be done to stop acid attacks.

It comes as police are investigating a five acid attacks in east and north London, which took place last night, over the space of just one hour.

The 33-year-old, who is herself a survivor of an acid attack, wrote that attacks involving corrosive substances appear to be on the rise, and that the situation cannot be allowed to continue to escalate.

Katie , who admitted she considered suicide after her attack, is calling for tougher sentences for those found guilty of carrying out attacks using corrosive substances.

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She claims some of the sentences handed to criminals do not reflect the severity of the crime.

Katie was attacked when she was 24-years-old, when a man she had been dating ordered an accomplice to carry out the devastating crime which left her with life changing injuries.

In her letter, Katie wrote: "My name is Katie Piper and I'm an acid attack survivor

"Attacks with various corrosive substances appear to be on the rise in some parts of the UK and I’m sharing my experiences below in the hope that it may help to shape the future and prevent further attacks on others.

Katie recovering from her severe injuries a year after the attack (Image: PA)

"I also swallowed some of the acid in the attack, damaging my throat, and I still require ongoing surgery on my throat to help me swallow and prevent scars closing it entirely; I suffered dangerous complications from one of these surgeries and my life was at risk once again.

"Since the attack I have undergone over 250 operations to improve my physical functioning, including operations to help me breathe through my nose, as well as hours of psychological therapy to help me to deal with the trauma of the attack and to accept my ‘new face’.

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"Soon after I left hospital, I set up a charity to help adults with burns from any cause, with the goal of setting up a residential burn rehabilitation centre in the UK.

"Through my charity work, and via social media, I have met or spoken to many others who have been attacked with corrosive substances and whose lives have been shattered by the trauma of the attack, their permanent change in appearance and the loss of their identity; some have also lost vision and physical function.

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"Through my charity’s support and rehabilitation work I see that it is not only the individuals, but also their families and friends, who are affected. Lives can be destroyed in moments.

"Survivors of such attacks often have to live with the immediate fear that their attackers may still be at large, and in the longer term - even if the attackers are caught and sentenced - may be released to potentially live alongside them after serving a minimum term.

She has had over 250 operations since the attack (Image: Twitter/@KatiePiper_)

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"I meet many inspiring individuals who have worked hard to rebuild their lives after an attack; however, it can be hard to stay motivated when the justice system does not always reflect the severity of these crimes.

"At present, it is all too easy for someone to buy a corrosive substance and throw it, sometimes from a distance, at another person.

"It is vital that we do everything we can to halt these types of attack.

"The current legislation does not always recognise the severity of the offence and, therefore, the sentencing does not reflect the severity of the crime in some cases.

Katie says she will need operations and therapy for the rest of her life after the attack (Image: Splash)

"Tougher sentencing would surely act as a deterrent to further attacks.

"The issue of penalties for carrying corrosive substances needs to be addressed and restrictions on the sale of corrosive substances need to be looked at seriously and methodically through a scientific and well-resourced approach that leads to swift action.

"This situation cannot be allowed to continue or escalate and this is my plea to prevent more lives being destroyed. My sincere thanks to those who are already proactively looking at these difficult, but important, issues and working towards solutions."